Found this article from the Sydney Morning Herald from 2003. It states that Mark Ferguson filled in for Jim Waley towards the end of the year when the veteran presenter had to take extended leave to treat skin cancer.
That year, Nine News won all 40 weeks in Sydney, including the period in which Ferguson deputised for Waley. While Fergo was only 37 at the time, I think it’s fair to say that this was the only sustainable period of ratings success he would enjoy, and that (along with him presenting on weeknights during the tsunami coverage in 2004-05) would prove a forerunner to him permanently replacing Waley in 2005.
When DDQ was on 5A in Toowoomba (from Mt Lofty) in the “10-4-5A” days, was there an equivalent local ABC TV relay on VHF?
I suspect not as all other channels appeared to be accounted for or were unavailable as below.
0 = TVQ Brisbane
1 = ABC Southern Downs
2 = ABC Brisbane
3 = ABC Darling Downs
4 = “10-4-5A” Southern Downs
5 = Unavailable due to 5A being in use
6 = Also unavailable as above
7 = 7 Brisbane
8 = Also assumed unavailable due to 7 & 9 Brisbane, and possibly Wide Bay
9 = 9 Brisbane
10 = “10-4-5A” Darling Downs
11 = Assumed unavailable due to 10 as above.
People in Toowoomba could get ABC 2 from Brisbane. I recall reading that was a significant reason for the 5/5a relay station anyway - to provide a local signal for people who had Brisbane antennas.
5 was unavailable because FM radio was starting in Brisbane - hence the move from 5 to 5a
Here is a highlights package that Seven showed of its coverage of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. Notice Basil Zempilas in commentary in the diving.
It would also appear that Johanna Griggs anchored the studio coverage from Melbourne, as you can see from the Sportsworld website that was on the desk.
Similarly, Seven would also show a highlights package of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games a week after the event finished. It (as well as the Opening Ceremony) was available on 7Plus as recently as April last year, just as the country entered lockdown.
A little bit misleading as the ABC relay station ABKT11 had been on air since January 1972. But yes, TNT9 didn’t commence there until September 1988 (TNT8)
(edit: The report did specifically mention commercial television)
Presumably nowadays, King Island receives the full array of television services which residents of the Tasmanian mainland (for the want of a better term) can receive?
